Advent Devotions: Week 3 Sunday

Readings given for today are: Isaiah 35, Psalm 146, and Matthew 11:2-15.

Today we begin the 3rd week of Advent. We've heard the readings from Matthew before ove the last few days. We know that the Israelites expected different things from Jesus. Their idea of a Messiah was wrong. How many ideas do we have wrong I wonder? Many people have an idea what heaven will be like. I'm pretty certain they (and all of us) are wrong. People read Revelations and make eschatological predictions (Eschatology is a fancy word for the "final things" or what we think about the end). I think that following the example of the Hebrews and the first time Jesus came to us, we can be reasonably certain that it will "come like a thief in the night" (2 Peter 3:10) as Jesus said, and will be nothing like what we expect.

So what should we do? What should we expect? We should keep our hearts and minds open to the Holy Spirit as it works its will in our lives. We should follow the law, love our neighbor, and love and glorify the Lord. As St. Paul said (Romans 12:9-12),

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus, please let your Spirit sneak into our hearts as we await your coming and inspire us to be the people of God as you desire.

Amen